1. ¸üµÖŸÖ ×¿ÖÖÖ ÃÖÓãÖÖ, ú´ÖÔ¾Ö߸ü ×¾ÖªÖ¯ÖϲÖÖê׬֭Öß, ´Ö¬µÖ ×¾Ö³Ö֐Ö, ÃÖÖŸÖÖ¸üÖ Std 8 Sub EnglishChapter 2.14 14. Read carefully: The Twelve Labours of Hercules The story of Hercules and his many adventures is a Greek myth. It is one of the greatest in the tales of ancient Greece and Rome. Here it is retold by the American writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804- 1864). His easy and readable version of the myths have helped generations of girls and boys to enjoy the adventure and excitement in those remarkable stories.

2. ¸üµÖŸÖ ×¿ÖÖÖ ÃÖÓãÖÖ, ú´ÖÔ¾Ö߸ü ×¾ÖªÖ¯ÖϲÖÖê׬֭Öß, ´Ö¬µÖ ×¾Ö³Ö֐Ö, ÃÖÖŸÖÖ¸üÖ Std 8 Sub EnglishChapter 2.14

3. ¸üµÖŸÖ ×¿ÖÖÖ ÃÖÓãÖÖ, ú´ÖÔ¾Ö߸ü ×¾ÖªÖ¯ÖϲÖÖê׬֭Öß, ´Ö¬µÖ ×¾Ö³Ö֐Ö, ÃÖÖŸÖÖ¸üÖ Std 8 Sub EnglishChapter 2.14 Hercules was the son of Jupiter, king of the gods. Juno, queen of the goddesses, had children of her own, and she hated Hercules from the moment of his birth, because Jupiter loved him more than he loved her children. When he was eight months old, she had two snakes put near him, to kill him. Hercules, however, strong as a man even in his babyhood, strangled the monsters before they could harm him.

4. ¸üµÖŸÖ ×¿ÖÖÖ ÃÖÓãÖÖ, ú´ÖÔ¾Ö߸ü ×¾ÖªÖ¯ÖϲÖÖê׬֭Öß, ´Ö¬µÖ ×¾Ö³Ö֐Ö, ÃÖÖŸÖÖ¸üÖ Std 8 Sub EnglishChapter 2.14 Juno then tried, as he grew up, to injure him in other ways. At last she brought upon him illness that made him mad for a time, and when he was not in his right mind he offended the gods by some evil act. But as soon as his senses returned to him, the thought of what he had done filled him with deep sorrow. “What can I do,” he cried in his great distress, “to wash away the stain of this sin?” Then a voice from heaven said to him: ‘For twelve years you must obey the commands of a king named Eurysthe us.’

5. ¸üµÖŸÖ ×¿ÖÖÖ ÃÖÓãÖÖ, ú´ÖÔ¾Ö߸ü ×¾ÖªÖ¯ÖϲÖÖê׬֭Öß, ´Ö¬µÖ ×¾Ö³Ö֐Ö, ÃÖÖŸÖÖ¸üÖ Std 8 Sub EnglishChapter 2.14 ‘ You will have to do for him, twelve very difficult and dangerous labours. When you have faithfully and patiently obeyed him you will be honoured among men. You will be rewarded at the end of your life with a place in heaven among the gods.’ Eurystheus was a crafty king. He received Hercules with honour, and spoke kindly words to him. But he had made up his mind to give Hercules such difficult tasks to do that he would either be killed in the attempt, or be laughed at by gods and men for failing.

6. ¸üµÖŸÖ ×¿ÖÖÖ ÃÖÓãÖÖ, ú´ÖÔ¾Ö߸ü ×¾ÖªÖ¯ÖϲÖÖê׬֭Öß, ´Ö¬µÖ ×¾Ö³Ö֐Ö, ÃÖÖŸÖÖ¸üÖ Std 8 Sub EnglishChapter 2.14 First, he asked Hercules to kill a deadly lion all by himself. Hercules fought the lion bravely and killed him. Eurystheus was amazed at his courage and strength. He began to fear Hercules. He gave orders that Hercules should never again be admitted within the city gates. All orders for the further adventures would be given to him outside the city walls. The faint-hearted king built a house of brass for himself, where he could shut himself whenever Hercules came near the city. As a part of the adventures, Hercules killed a seven- headed monster, captured a stag known for its swiftness and a wild boar known for its strength.

7. ¸üµÖŸÖ ×¿ÖÖÖ ÃÖÓãÖÖ, ú´ÖÔ¾Ö߸ü ×¾ÖªÖ¯ÖϲÖÖê׬֭Öß, ´Ö¬µÖ ×¾Ö³Ö֐Ö, ÃÖÖŸÖÖ¸üÖ Std 8 Sub EnglishChapter 2.14 Eurystheus then thought of a very difficult – nearly impossible task. He asked Hercules to bring the golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides. The Hesperides were three beautiful maidens whose work was to guard the tree bearing the golden apples presented by Jupiter to the queen of the gods. The maidens were assisted in their task by a huge, hideous dragon. It was a dangerous task, and the distance was great, for the apples grew in that far-off Africa from which Hercules had only just returned. But with a brave heart, not giving himself one day’s rest, he set forth again to Africa to do his duty.

8. ¸üµÖŸÖ ×¿ÖÖÖ ÃÖÓãÖÖ, ú´ÖÔ¾Ö߸ü ×¾ÖªÖ¯ÖϲÖÖê׬֭Öß, ´Ö¬µÖ ×¾Ö³Ö֐Ö, ÃÖÖŸÖÖ¸üÖ Std 8 Sub EnglishChapter 2.14 He had not the faintest idea in which part of Africa to look for the apples. A friendly god whispered to him that Nereus, one of the lesser gods, whose home was in the sea, could advise him in which direction to go. Now Nereus was very cunning. When he saw anyone coming to ask him a question, he took the form of a fish and swam far away beyond hearing. But Hercules was lucky enough to catch Nereus when he was having a midday nap upon a rock, and he held him firmly until he had answered every question. Then, with a light heart, our hero travelled towards Africa. Having landed in the north, he was able, through what had been told him by Nereus, to reach the garden of the golden apples. How to get the treasures was now his chief difficulty. If he won the fight with the dragon, there still remained the three fair maidens to oppose him, and the greatest hero of his time could not very well lift a weapon against three girls.

9. ¸üµÖŸÖ ×¿ÖÖÖ ÃÖÓãÖÖ, ú´ÖÔ¾Ö߸ü ×¾ÖªÖ¯ÖϲÖÖê׬֭Öß, ´Ö¬µÖ ×¾Ö³Ö֐Ö, ÃÖÖŸÖÖ¸üÖ Std 8 Sub EnglishChapter 2.14 While he was thus wondering what he had better do, he came upon a giant named Atlas. This giant was forced to carry the heavens upon his shoulders as a punishment for having once taken part in a battle against the gods. “Tell me, great Atlas,” said Hercules, “how I may get into the garden where the golden apples grow.” “Ah,” replied Atlas, “all the guidance in the world would not bring you into that magic garden. But if you will carry my burden for a while, I will gladly go myself and obtain the golden apples for you.”

10. ¸üµÖŸÖ ×¿ÖÖÖ ÃÖÓãÖÖ, ú´ÖÔ¾Ö߸ü ×¾ÖªÖ¯ÖϲÖÖê׬֭Öß, ´Ö¬µÖ ×¾Ö³Ö֐Ö, ÃÖÖŸÖÖ¸üÖ Std 8 Sub EnglishChapter 2.14 “ That I will gladly do,” cried the hero; and, in a moment, the giant bent his knees and placed the load of the heavens upon the shoulders of Hercules. There he meant it to remain, for he was a cunning giant, and had grown tired of his weary burden. It did not take him long to reach the garden and pluck the golden apples.

11. ¸üµÖŸÖ ×¿ÖÖÖ ÃÖÓãÖÖ, ú´ÖÔ¾Ö߸ü ×¾ÖªÖ¯ÖϲÖÖê׬֭Öß, ´Ö¬µÖ ×¾Ö³Ö֐Ö, ÃÖÖŸÖÖ¸üÖ Std 8 Sub EnglishChapter 2.14 As soon as he had returned, he placed the sacred treasures in the hands of Hercules. Then, laughing with joy at being free from his heavy burden, he began to walk merrily away. “Stay but for a little while,” shouted the astonished Hercules; “if I am to carry your load, place it more comfortably upon my shoulders. It is only right that you should show me that kindness.”

12. ¸üµÖŸÖ ×¿ÖÖÖ ÃÖÓãÖÖ, ú´ÖÔ¾Ö߸ü ×¾ÖªÖ¯ÖϲÖÖê׬֭Öß, ´Ö¬µÖ ×¾Ö³Ö֐Ö, ÃÖÖŸÖÖ¸üÖ Std 8 Sub EnglishChapter 2.14 The giant at once agreed to do what Hercules wished, and with both hands he raised the load so that it might lie more easily. As soon as the hero felt the weight lifted from him, he ran swiftly to a distance. Then he turned round for last look at the angry and disappointed Atlas, and laughed in triumph as he heard the cries of the giant, which sounded like the pealing of thunder.